is fema a different organization than it was five years ago? >> i think it's very much a different organization. but we never quit trying to get better. the lessons learned from katrina cannot be forgotten and as we face hurricane earl, again, some of these lessons are can aming into play now, particularly where congress gave us newer authorities in 2006, the post-katrina emergency management format clarifies fema would not have to wait until a governor declared a disaster to request assistance from the president to start getting ready inspect this case i think it is really paying off. we're not sure which states are going to get hit, so we can't wait to find out and wait for those requests. we had to get ready just in case across entire east coast as we did this past weekend in puerto rico and v.i., and congress gave people fema new authorities to make sure we're prepared to support governors without waiting for them to be overwhelmed in a disaster. >> lehrer: are you keeping president obama informed about what's going on? >> yes, sir. i talke